Edinburgh City Council are to call on sports clubs to offer more to children from deprived areas, as part of a strategy to tackle inequality.

A five-year plan will be launched centred around 'Sport for Change' following a consultation with clubs and community organisations in November, to see what more can be done to offer equal sporting opportunities to youngsters from low income families.

Money could be granted to clubs to encourage them to work in deprived areas, while sporting facilities could be transferred to community organisations as part of the shake-up.

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The move comes after controversial plans to increase the cost of hiring school sports halls were put on hold after a public outcry when the council was warned young people from poorer areas were set to lose out.

'Better opportunities'

Robin Yellowlees, the council’s strategic development manager, said: ''Child poverty is the biggest challenge we face nationally and in this city. Children that grow up in deprivation in this city do not get the same sporting offer.

"We need to try and find a way to deal with that.

''One of the ways is by engaging with our top sports clubs, and we need to try and get these sports clubs to work in areas of deprivation.''

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He added: ''If we can get kids in those neighbourhoods to engage with the clubs, we think this is one of the best ways to try and tackle this. We need to give better opportunities to young people in those areas.

''We would like to see whether we can give grants to sports clubs to take on this challenge.''

The strategy will focus on increasing physical activity and access to affordable facilities across the city.